Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Barum Polaris 5 and Michelin Alpin A4 appear in 13 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Barum Polaris 5 performs. It takes the win in noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Michelin Alpin A4 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 93/100, based on 1 test.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Michelin Alpin A4 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Barum Polaris 5 still wins on noise / comfort, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise mileage
Choose Michelin Alpin A4 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 5 | Michelin Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 13.4 | 3.7 |
| Latest test | 2024 | 2017 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89.7 | 92.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 5
Michelin Alpin A4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 5 | Michelin Alpin A4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 14.4 11 | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Michelin Alpin A4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.5 2 | Avg rank 2.0 1 | Michelin Alpin A4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 12.5 1 | Avg rank 3.0 2 | Michelin Alpin A4 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 8.5 | Avg rank 5.0 1 | Michelin Alpin A4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.4 1 | No data | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 9.0 | No data | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 15.2 | Avg rank 1.0 1 | Michelin Alpin A4 |
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4
The Michelin Alpin A4 wins this category with an average rank of 3.5, compared to 14.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4
The Michelin Alpin A4 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 10.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4
The Michelin Alpin A4 wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to 12.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4
The Michelin Alpin A4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 8.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.4, compared to no data for the Michelin Alpin A4.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to no data for the Michelin Alpin A4.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Michelin Alpin A4
The Michelin Alpin A4 wins this category with an average rank of 1.0, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Michelin Alpin A4?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Michelin Alpin A4 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Michelin Alpin A4 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Barum Polaris 5 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Barum Polaris 5 ranks better than the Michelin Alpin A4.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Barum Polaris 5 shows better mileage performance than the Michelin Alpin A4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Michelin Alpin A4 in 1.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →